Daytrotter is one of the BEST sites to discover indie/folk-rock bands.  And you can download the live Daytrotter sessions for FREE (the sessions are usually 4 songs).

Here are some of my favorite Daytrotter sessions:

Local Natives

Mates of State

Bonnie Prince Billy (2008) & Bonnie Prince Billy (2010)

Bon Iver

Ingrid Michaelson (in illustration at left)

That’ll get ya started.  There’s SO MUCH MORE.  Check out the session archives.  Let me know who/what you like!

I’ve always wondered if professional musicians sometimes played spontaneous — or at least unannounced — concerts at random places.  Weezer did.  See video below.

Last week Ben Folds was amazing, as always.  But the opening band, Kate Miller-Heidke, nearly stole the show.

Kate and her accompanying guitarist (her partner/boyfriend/husband, I think) were playful, funny, creative and dramatic (Kate added operatic flourishes that were shocking and hysterical).  And they’re talented!  I gave them a standing ovation several times … I couldn’t help myself.

See/listen for yourself.  The first video below shows Kate and her guitarist singing/playing a song called “Politics in Space,” which is one of my favorites.  In the second video, Kate performs the song “Are You F*cking Kidding Me (Live),” which is a hoot, especially if you’ve ever reconnected with a former girlfriend/boyfriend on Facebook.

Kate Miller-Heidke on iLike – Get updates inside iTunes

Tomorrow night my roommate Randy and I are going to the Ben Folds concert at The Vic.  On this tour, Ben has been having fun with Chatroulette.  See the video below.  (You may pee in your pants.)

My friend Jason Windsor co-founded the band Songs of Water, which is releasing a new CD this month.

Their songs are mostly instrumental, and the music is a brilliant fusion of styles — it’s very unique, and captivating.

Listen to songs on their MySpace page, and check out the short video below of a recent rehearsal.

NPR recently covered the 50th annual Newport Folk Festival, and now you can listen to many of the performances online.  (Thank you, NPR!)

To browse a list of performances, head to NPR’s Folk at Newport home page, and you’ll find the list in the left column.

Enjoy performances from relative folk newbies, such as Iron and Wine, The Decemberists (Colin Meloy of The Decemberists in photo at left), The Avett Brothers, Neko Case and Gillian Welch.  And don’t miss some classics, such as Judy Collins, Joan Baez (Mom, are you reading this?!), Arlo Guthrie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Pete Seeger.

Finally, as if the performances weren’t enough, you can download for FREE a 12-song “Music at Newport” sampler, which features songs by some of the artisits I listed above.  Again, thank you, NPR.

Enjoy, and let me know which performance you enjoyed most.

I’m sitting shirtless (fan yourself) on my patio, laptop out, working (sort of), dodging bumble bees and listening to NPR’s Mountain Stage concerts.  Right now I’m listening to Neko Case’s concert, and NPR’s interview with her.

“You’re the one that I still miss.”  -Neko Case

Other great Mountain Stage concerts I’ve listened to:  Martin Sexton and Crooked Fingers.

These are short (about 5 songs), intimate concerts … I’m LOVING them.  Enjoy.

Last Saturday night my roommate Randy and I experienced Bob Schneider in concert at the Double Door in Chicago’s artsy, hipster-filled Wicker Park neighborhood.

Bob kicked off the show with a hilarious, evocative song about the Hulk — and the party rolled on from there!

Bob is from Austin, Texas, and is legendary in those parts.  He should be legendary in all parts … the man is mega talented and INCREDIBLE live.  (Kathy and Greg, have you guys seen him yet?)

Here’s a brief photo journey of our night.  (I took these photos with my cell phone camera.)

Oh, but first, here’s some of Bob’s music … so you can listen as you view photos.

Heading to the show, Chicago’s skyline in the background.  Should I be taking photos while I drive?!

A mural promoting Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Wicker Park neighborhood is also known as the bicycle neighborhood.  It’s hip to pedal.

The Double Door is across the street from the Damen Blue Line stop.

And whatta ya know, here’s the Blue Line train roarin’ through.

Now this is the Blue Line I wanna ride, the Blue Line pub.

Public art in Wicker Park … it’s fun.  Here’s Rod Blagojevich running for his life.

Randy and his warm-fuzzy musician friends.

Here’s perhaps the most exciting sign I saw all night.

Wait, how’d my bedroom get mixed up in these photos?!?!

We finally made it to the Double Door.

Aren’t marquees beautiful?

Once inside the Double Door, Randy began strutting his stuff.

Randy can’t wait for Bob to come on … but the disco ball is keeping him happy.

Ahhhh … BOB.

Yep, you can listen to all the songs on Ben’s iLike page.  Enjoy!  “Selfless, Cold and Composed” and “Magic” are simply amazing.